Goals: 1-0. 69. Nimar. Got on end of Rossi cross to turn ball
past Petkov on near post.

Villarreal had more problems than expected against Levski Sofia in
their opening Europa League game, but in the end they ran out 1-0 winners to
share top spot with Salzburg in their group.

Valverde gave a run out to several of his new players on another
rainy night in the Madrigal stadium, and Pereira fired a couple of efforts wide
early on. Pires went close with a free kick after the restart, and Pereira hit
the post after Nilmar set him up.

But the Bulgarian side held their own until twenty minutes from the
end, when Rossi crossed in for Nilmar to beat Petkov on the near post. That was
just enough for a win, and Villarreal's new European campaign is under way.